Mexican DTOs and criminal groups dominate the transportation and
wholesale distribution of illicit drugs in the Chicago HIDTA region.
The overall control held by these tightly organized and compartmentalized
Mexican drug trafficking groups is facilitated by the large Mexican
population in the Greater Chicago metropolitan area. Familial connections
and associations enable these organizations to effectively facilitate
the transportation and wholesale distribution of large quantities of
cocaine, marijuana, and Mexican black tar heroin and brown powder heroin
to the region. Additionally, as a result of their dominance over smuggling
routes into the United States from the Southwest Border and effective
transportation corridors to Chicago, the Mexican DTOs are also able
to facilitate the transportation and distribution of South American
(SA) heroin to the region. Many Mexican traffickers have also established
residency in upscale suburban communities, where they store and distribute
illicit drugs and consolidate drug proceeds.

Colombian, Nigerian, and other West African DTOs and criminal groups,
although much less influential than Mexican DTOs and criminal groups,
transport significant quantities of illicit drugs to the region for
distribution. The drugs supplied and distributed by Colombian DTOs and
criminal groups (SA heroin and cocaine) differ from those supplied by
Nigerian and other West African DTOs and criminal groups (Southwest
Asian (SWA) and Southeast Asian (SEA) heroin); as such, each drug poses
unique problems for law enforcement throughout the HIDTA region.

The Chicago HIDTA region has a high concentration of nationally affiliated
African American street gangs and Hispanic street gangs, such as Gangster
Disciples, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings, which maintain unrivaled control
over retail drug distribution in the city of Chicago and in less affluent
suburbs. Law enforcement estimates that there are approximately 75 to
100 gangs with a total of 70,000 members in Chicago. While these street
gangs vary in levels of sophistication and organization from highly
structured organizations with strong member allegiance to loosely structured
groups with independent operators, they are the primary conduit through
which illicit drugs reach the typical drug user.

Highly structured Chicago street gangs alter their methods of operation
and increasingly employ cutting-edge communication technology to counter
law enforcement efforts to disrupt their distribution operations. For
example, law enforcement initiatives targeting street corner distribution
have successfully reduced drug sales by street gangs in open-air markets
in the city of Chicago. However, street gangs have responded by shifting
retail distribution operations to indoor venues and by frequently changing
locations. Gang members use disposable cell phones, text messaging,
and Internet web site chat rooms to coordinate changes in sales locations
to avoid detection. Additionally, many successful gang leaders have
established residency in suburban communities from where they coordinate
more decentralized drug sales in the city. While street gang violence
routinely occurs among lower-level gang members in various rival gangs,
rival gang leaders often cooperate in order to maintain business profits.